Missoula County Flood Update May 14

May 15, 2018 By

From the Missoula Flood Support Facebook Page:

Please be aware that the Missoula sandbagging staging area is moved to Fort Missoula, C Road Missoula, MT 59804

Missoula County Office of Emergency Management is coordination with United Way of Missoula County has established a flood-relief fund to assist folks affected by the rising waters. The first grants will buy sand for sandbags. To donate, go to https://www.missoulaunitedway.org/Donate and earmark your gift for Flood Relief. Look for the flood relief checkbox.

For the latest updates on flooding in Missoula County, call the OEM hotline at 406-258-INFO (4636). The line is staffed from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. An information booth also is set up at Wheat Montana parking lot, 2520 S 3rd St. W.

Safety is the top priority at all times. Make sure you are in a safe location before reporting a hazard and do not drive through or enter flooded areas. Call 9-1-1 immediately if there is an emergency situation.

Key Updates: The Clark Fork River above Missoula will continue to decrease slightly within the Moderate Flood Stage until Wednesday/Thursday when it is predicted to rise to major flooding. Due to rising temperatures, water levels are expected to rise back into the Major Flood Stage and crest again sometime Friday evening or Saturday morning at or above levels experienced last week. On Saturday a warning was sent out to an additional 2,205 residents that reside along the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers, notifying them of potential flood hazards and that evacuation may become necessary. Residents are strongly encouraged to plan and prepare for evacuation orders. It is strongly recommended that all Missoula County residents sign up for the Missoula County Smart911 alerts (smart911.com), which is how emergency warning and notices are communicated to those affected.

River Hazard: Flood waters have tipped over power poles at the end of Tower Street, spanning across the river to Schmidt Lane. Power lines in the water are causing a significant safety hazard for anyone recreating on the Clark Fork River. Fishing access sites are currently closed in the area and extreme caution is advised for those working in or around flood waters. The public is advised not to recreate in the water at this time, as it it poses a significant danger to themselves and also raises the possibility of pulling Search and Rescue operations away from other important duties.

Incident Overview: The combination of a very large snowpack and recent precipitation has resulted in early season flooding. The Clark Fork River above Missoula crested at 13.82 feet – major flood stage and the second-highest on record – on the evening of Friday, May 12, 2018. A Type III Incident Management Team continues to manage the incident. On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 approximately 60 homes in the Missoula Orchard Homes area were notified by the Sheriff’s Office to evacuate. These structures were identified as needing immediate evacuation. The night of Thursday, May 10, 2018, on south Harpers Bridge Road, three homes were issued evacuation orders and 10 additional homes put on evacuation warning, and on Hamel Road in Frenchtown two homes were issued evacuation orders. The Sheriff’s Office has established roadblocks in the Orchard Homes area, on Harpers Bridge Road and Hamel Road. Residents who are under an evacuation ORDER will not be allowed back in past the roadblocks. However, as conditions allow some homeowners may be allowed into isolated areas to perform additional preventive measures to protect their homes. We ask the public to remember that this is a dynamic and ever-changing situation and public safety is our number one priority. Residents around the evacuation area are strongly advised to make emergency preparations to evacuate, as flood waters are expected to continue to rise. If evacuation ORDERS are issued, time is limited to leave your residence — make final preparations NOW. Self-evacuation is recommended.

Evacuations:

An evacuation ORDER is now in effect for the following areas: • Tower Street, North of 3rd Street • Kehrwald Drive
• Channel Drive • Nancy Lou Drive • Keck Street and Stone Street – North of Flamingo Drive • Schmidt Road • Off Mullan Road • South Harpers Bridge Road • Hamel Road • Under the Reserve Street Bridge Due to danger from flooding conditions, residents are being ordered to evacuate immediately. Affected residents should check in at the information trailer set up in the Wheat Montana parking lot on the corner of 3rd Street and Reserve.

Sandbag Stations:
Thanks to generous donations and community support, the County has set up a sandbagging station and central resources hub at the following locations: • Fort Missoula – Volunteers can help fill sandbags from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Check in with a Team Rubicon representative upon arrival. Volunteers must have current health insurance to help with sandbagging. The location is across the road from the Child Development Center, located at 3335 Lt Moss Rd, Missoula, MT 59804. • Missoula County Detention Center – Sandbags can be picked up in the east parking lot, 2340 Mullan Road. Limited supply of filled sandbags are currently available. • Frenchtown Fire Station 1 – Self-fill sandbag station, filled and unfilled sandbags and sand are available at 16875 Marion Street in Frenchtown. • East Missoula Fire Department – Self-fill sandbag station, filled and unfilled sandbags and sand are available at 314 Montana Ave. in Missoula. • Seeley Lake – Sandbags can be obtained at the Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Missoula County Public Works has distributed 72,500 sandbags in the County to date. Resources to purchase sand are limited. Monetary donations through United Way of Missoula County go toward purchasing sand. Sandbagging operations will continue depending on availability of sand, sandbags and volunteers. The U.S. Army Corps has delivered 100,000 sandbags to Missoula County to date, with 100,000 more on the way.

Shelter Information:
American Red Cross shelters are on standby and ready to assist in Missoula and Seeley Lake. Residents seeking shelter should call 1-800-272-6668.

Potable Water:
In addition to Missoula Water providing access to potable water (1345 W. Broadway, Mon-Fri from 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM), a Culligan water truck will be at Wheat Montana (2520 S. 3rd St. W.) until further notice to provide potable water to those in need. In both cases people should bring clean containers to fill with water.

Health Safety:
AVOID CONTACT WITH FLOODWATER – Flood water is not the same as normal river water and contains potential contaminants: • Bacteria and viruses from septic systems can cause infection and illness.

• Other materials like household cleaners and chemicals, lawn care products, and pesticides can cause skin irritation, rash and allergic reaction. • Those who must work in flood-inundated areas should cover their skin with some type of water impermeable (rubber) boots and gloves and wash exposed areas with soap and water and rinse thoroughly immediately after exposure. • The Health Department recommends ensuring tetanus shots are up to date. The department’s walk-in clinic offers vaccinations on a sliding fee scale. 406-258-3363

Public Safety:
Public safety is the Incident Management Team’s top priority. The public should not violate roadblocks or trespass on private property. Deputies are patrolling evacuated areas to protect private property. Avoid traveling in flooded areas. The public should avoid flooded areas altogether. Any increase in traffic can hinder response efforts and create safety hazards. Residents should photograph and report hazards using the online form at bit.ly/MslaHazardReportingForm.

River Access:

Do not attempt to recreate in the water. We are experiencing water levels not seen since the 1970s. River levels are high, currents are fast and debris is widespread. Emergency responders are working across the county as flooding unfolds and should not need to be pulled from that work. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have closed the following sites on the Clark Fork: Sha-Ron, Kelly Island (all access points), Kona, Deep Creek, and Harpers Bridge Fishing Access Sites (FASs), and Council Grove State Park. FWP also closed the gates or created temporary barriers at many other FASs around the region along the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers. FASs with limited access remain open to walk-in use, but people are urged to avoid these areas and exercise extreme caution. A complete list of those sites is available at http://fwp.mt.gov/news.

Public Information:
A flood information line, 258-INFO, has been established and is staffed today from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Callers will hear an updated recording afterhours. A public information trailer is set up at the Wheat Montana parking lot at 2520 S. 3rd St. West and is staffed from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Information is posted afterhours